Switching device with l-shaped contactor bars



VJune 4, 1957 T. G. BANK SWITCHING DEVICE wrm L-SHAPED CoNTAcToR BARSFiled Oct. 28, 1954 United States Patent O SWITCHING DEVICE WITHL-SHAPED CONTACT R BARS Thor G. Bank, West Allis, Wis., assignor toAllis-ChaL mers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application ctober 28, 1954, Serial No. 465,240

4 Claims. v(Cl. 200-50) switching desired auxiliary circuits.

Switchgear is usually withdrawably mounted -by an extensible mountingcarried by the-cubicle to facilitate mov- `ing the switch from anoperating position'to a testing or a repair position. In an operatingposition primary con- 'tacts presented by the switch are connected withmating primary contacts rpresented .by the cubicle and are in slidingengagement with each other. The switching device, namely, the auxiliarycontacts between the switch and cubicle, transmits the desiredv.operating and control signals from the cubicle to the switch. It isnecessary to test the responses of the various operating portions of theswitch to predetermined control signals. The switching device providesthe desired operating rand test position switching. The switch in itsclosed position receives through the switching device one set of controlsignals responsive tothe circuit conditions. In the test positiontheauxiliary contact of the switch is slidably moved to the test positionalong the auxiliary contact carried by the cubicle thereby effectingcontact on a test contact portion. A set of testing signalsmay then beapplied to test the reaction and operation of the switch in response tothese signals.

As load'and line conditions change, the switch may be made responsiveVto a different set of control signals. This may be effected by changingthe arrangement 'of the switching 'device contact portions in test andVoperation positionsfeifected--by removal of'portions -of the contactbar and reinsertion of bar and insulator spacers. Many desiredarrangements may be so effected. This then eliminates the need forreplacement of the entire switching device every time circuit parametersyor operating conditions change.

An object of this invention is to provide a switching device simple indesign and manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switching device whichconducts one set of desired signals in an operating position and mayconduct another set of signals in a test position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switching device withL-shaped contactor bars for supporting themselves and an insulator bodytherebetween.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switching device inwhich the contactor bars are interchangeable with insulator spacers toeffect various circuit arrangements.

Objects and advantages other than those set fort above will be apparentfrom the following 4description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmental view partly in section of a switch extensiblymounted in a cubicle embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged isometric fragmentary view showing the stationaryor cubicle contacts of the switching device mounted in an insulatorblock;

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Fig. 3 is an enlarged section view of contacts of the switching devicepresenting two current carrying paths;

Fig. 4 is a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. y5 is a modification `of the structure shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

The switching device includes a switch or circuit breaker 10 which isextensibly mounted in a cubicle 11 by pantographs 12. Switch 10 is shownin Fig. 1 as having its primary contacts 13 connected with matingprimary contacts 14 carried by cubicle 11. Mating primary contacts 14may be connected by buses 15 to a circuit (not shown) in whichprotection is desired. Switch '10 may be yextended by `operation ofscrew 18 mounted by cubicle 11 for coacting with threaded lug 19 affixedto the switch. Rotation of screw 18 moves lug 19 alongscrew 18 andextends switch 10.

Auxiliary circuit connectors form a further part of the switching deviceand have first contacts 20 mounted on vand presented by switch 10 forsliding engagement with second contacts 21. Second contacts 21 aremounted in a contact block 22. Insulated contact block 22, a part ofcubicle 11, mounts second contacts 21 by bolts 23. Bolts 23 areconductors and extend through contact block 22 to permit attachment ofsuitable auxiliary circuit conductors to effect operation of switch 10infresponse to desired signals.

Second contacts 21 support and are spaced apart by an insulator body 24.Insulator` body 24 maintains a predetermined spacing between contacts21.

Second contacts 21 comprise a pair of L-shaped contactor bars 28. Eachof the `bars has a first part 29 and a second part 30. The rst partincludes `an operating contact portion 31 and a test contact portion 32.Means, such as rivets 33 or screws 34, may be used to fasten first part29 to body 24.

Second part y30 is fastened to block 22 by bolts `23, which block is inturn presented by cubicle 11. Second part 30 totally supports the entireassembly including second contacts 21 and body 24.

An insulating spacer 38 may be used in conjunction with operatingcontact portion 31 and test contact portion 32 to separate the portionsthereby providing two separate circuits, one for operating position andone for test position of switch 10. Figs. 4 through 6 show variousmodifications effecting various circuit combinations by use ofinsulating spacer 38. Spacer 38 may be associated with either one orboth of the bars 28. Fig. 4 illustrates the use of spacer 38 with theupper of the bars 28, separating operating contact portion 31 from testcontact portion 32.

Fig. 5 shows one of the bars 28 having a long operating contact portion31 and with insulating spacer 38 forming the test contact portion 32.Either one or both of bars 28 may be so constructed.

Fig. 6 shows a modification wherein both bars 28 have insulating spacers38 separating operating contact portion 31 from test contact portion 32.Thus the spacer 38 is utilized to obtain another change of circuitthrough the bars 28.

Operation of the switching device is effected when it is desired toextend switch 10 from its operating position, as shown in Fig. 1 and bythe solid fragments of rst contacts 20 in Figs. 3-6, to its testposition shown by the dotted fragment of rst contacts 20 in Figs. 3-6.

As screw 18 is rotated, lug 19 follows therealong causing extension ofswitch 10 on pantographs 12 with respect to cubicle 11. Primary contacts13 and 14 are disengaged from each other and the auxiliary contacts,namely, first contact 20 slidingly moves from engagement with operatingcontact portion 31 of second contact 21 to test and described herein isillustrative only and the invention includes suchother modications andequivalents as may readily appear to those skilled in the art and in thes scope of the appended claims. v VIt is claimed and desired to secureby vLetters Patent: 1. A switching device including a cubicle and acircuit 'breaker withdrawably mounted in said cubicle, said switchingdevice including primary .contacts and auxiliary contacts, saidauxiliary contacts including iii-st members presented by said circuitbreaker and second members f presented by said cubicle and slidablyengaging said rst members, one of'said members including means havingoperating portions and test portions, said circuit breaker Y, beingselectively positionable in an operating position and a test positionwith respect to said cubicle, said operi ating portions of said onemember electrically engaging said other member when said breaker is inoperating position and said test portions electrically engaging saidother member when said circuit breaker is in test position, said primarycontact being electrically connected when said breaker is in saidoperating position and being disconnected when said breaker is in saidtest position. n

2. A switching device including a cubicle and a circuit Y breakerwithdrawably mounted in said cubicle, said switching device includingprimary contacts and auxiliary contacts, said auxiliary contactsincluding a irst member presented by said circuit breaker and a secondmember presented by said cubicle and slidably engaging said irst-member, said second member including a pair of L- shaped contactor barsconnectable to an electrical source,

' said bars having operating portions and test portions, in-

sulator means between Vsaid bars for maintaining said bars at apredetermined spacing, said circuit breaker being selectivelypositionable in an operating position and a test position with respectto said cubicle, said operating portions of said bars electricallyengaging said first member when said breaker is in operating positionand said test l portions electrically engaging said other member Whensaid circuit breaker is in test position, said primary contact beingelectrically connected when said breaker is in said operating positionand being disconnected when said breaker is in said test position.

3. A switching device including a cubicle and a circuit breakerwithdrawably mounted in said cubicle, said switching device includingprimary contacts and auxiliary contacts, said auxiliary contactsincluding a first member presented by said circuit breaker and a secondmember presented by said cubicle and slidably engaging said rst member,said second member including a pair of L-shaped contactor barsconnectable to an electrical source and including an insulator bodybetween said bars for maintaining said bars at a predetermined spacing,said bars having operating portions and test portions, meanselectrically isolating the test portion of one of said bars from saidsource,-said operating portions of said bars electrically engaging saidfirst member when said breaker is in operating position and said testportions engaging said rst memberv when said circuit breaker is in testposition, said primary contact being electrically connected when saidbreaker is in said operating position and being disconnected When saidbreaker is in said test position.

4. A switching device including a cubicle and a circuit breakerwithdrawably mounted in Vsaid cubicle and being selectively positionablein an operating position and a test position with respect to saidcubicle, said switching device including primary contacts and auxiliarycontacts, said auxiliary contacts including a first member presented bysaid circuit breaker and a second member presented by said cubicle andslidably engaging said rst member, said second member including a pairof L-shaped contactor bars connectable to an electrical source andincluding an insulator body between said bars for maintaining said barsat a predetermined spacing, said bars having operating portions and testportions, means electrically isolating the test portion of one of saidbars from said source and electrically connecting said isolated portionto the other of said bars, said operating portions of said barselectrically engaging said rst member when said breaker is in operatingposition and said test portions engaging said first member when saidcircuit breaker is in test position, said primary contact beingelectrically connected when said breaker is in said operating positionand being disconnected when said breaker is in said test position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,090,489 Murray Mar. 17, 1914 1,658,832 Brown Feb. 14, 1928 2,412,293Schymik Dec. 10, 1946 2,699,534- Klostermann Ian. 1l, 1955 2,703,829Lingal Mar. 8, 1955

